According to the jury, the Luxembourg-Lyon route is the Cycling Route of the Year 2026. The announcement came at the Cycling and Walking Fair, where the 727-kilometer route along the Moselle and the Saône won over the Achterhoek. Based on the map and the route description, that choice seems logical. At the same time, the nomination shows that the Achterhoek was a strong contender.
727 kilometers along two rivers
The winning route starts in Luxembourg City and ends in Lyon. Along the way you follow two large river valleys: first the Moselle, Then the Saône. The profile is mostly flat, the path is mostly open and you could say that you don’t even notice that you are going from Luxembourg to France, because the paths almost seamlessly connect.. 727 kilometers mostly along rivers and over paths where you are not bothered by cars. That makes it a wonderful holiday route.
The jury evaluated signage, the quality of the road surface or the ground, facilities, and the originality of the route. This combination of length, the ease with which you cross the border, and how the route was thought out in terms of logistics ultimately gave the deciding factor. There are several campsites along the route and Guest houses Literally against the bike path, with the usual signs for cyclists everywhere. For those who need them, there are even charging stations for e-bikes. As for the planning: expect around 8 to 10 days if you want to cycle leisurely at 70–90 km per day, but for the dedicated race cyclist or gravel rider: divide that by half. And if you’re hungry: the tarte aux mirabelles serves as a replacement for a fritter.
The Achterhoek as a strong number two
The Achterhoek, and specifically the area around Winterswijk, was one of the other finalists. The nomination for that route came mainly because of the famous coulissel countryside: a mix of small-scale agriculture, forests, winding paths and wooden fences. In addition, the region has one of the most dense network of hubs in the Netherlands, which allows you to vary your routes in all sorts of ways. We mainly use Komoot and Veloplanner, but for those who prefer cycling with numbers this is a good indicator.
Municipalities such as Berkelland, Bronckhorst en Winterswijk Investing heavily in cycling infrastructure and tourist offerings is evident in the quality of the trails and the facilities along the way. For a long weekend on a bike, with good bike storage and a bakery with apple pie around the corner, the Achterhoek is a popular region in the Netherlands.
The difference between the finalists lies mainly in scale and character. The Luxembourg–Lyon route is an international route that you cannot cover in one day. The Achterhoek offers a compact, regional network where you can take several day trips in two or three days. The Voie Bleu route and the Achterhoek therefore cater to different types of cycling routes. We prefer to spend a day exploring the Achterhoek.
And now?
If you’re looking for a multi-day route, you can really get your fill with the 727 kilometers between Luxembourg and Lyon. If you’d rather take a route closer to home, then choose the Achterhoek. We have a few more tips!
Have you ever cycled along the Moselle or Saône? Or do you know of a route in the Achterhoek that shouldn’t be missing here? Let us know!
Questions & tips
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